Angularly tiltable, rapidly adjustable tube coupling



Dec. 18, 1956 K. .'L ANN|NGER 2,774,617

ANGULARLY TILTABLE, RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE TUBE CQUPLING Filed Nov. 2,v 1954'4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 18, 1956 K. L.. LANNINGER 2,774,617

, ANGULARLY frILTABLE. RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE TUBE: COUPLING d FiledNov. 2,1954 4 sheets-sheet 2 winmx/4,

f d' 'f es Dec. 18, 1956 L LANNINGER 2,774,617

ANGULARLYv TILTABLE, RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE TUBE COUPLING 4 Sheets-Sheel'.lI5

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ANGULARLY TILTABLE, RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE TUBE coUPLING Filed Nov. 2, 19544 Sheets-Sheet 4 /m f M United States Patent O ANGULARLY TILTABLE,RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE TUBE COUPLING Karl Ludwig Lanninger, Frankfurt amMain, Germany Application November 2, 1954, Serial No. 466,255 Claimspriority, application Germany VNovember 16', 1953 Claims. (Cl. 285-71)This invention relates to couplings for tubes, which are oifsetangularly and snap into place rapidly, and specifically deals with theproblem of constructing suchrcouplings in order to make them easilyremovable from the tube ends to which they are attached and/or easilyadfY to angularly tiltable, rapidly adjustable `tube couplings combiningthe following characteristics: `Two identical coupling halves, onerespectively on each tube end, with the inside diameter of the saidcoupling halves larger than the outside diameter of the tubes, an archedannular re# cess in the inner wall of each couplingl half andaringshaped ridge on each tube end interlocking withthe aforesaidrecess, thus capable of preventing the parting ofthe coupling halvesfrom the tube ends,.a sealingsleeve between each coupling half and thecorresponding tubeend to which this coupling half is attached, the-saidsealing sleeves being located with regard to the tube ends, in front ofthe annular recesses, and finally, frontal seals, to'be set into thecoupling halves, as well as locking devices and counterparts thereof forthe former, suited to join the two coupling halves tightly in the closedposition, bypressing the two frontal seals against each other.

Between the ring-shaped ridge on each tube' end and the arched annularrecess of each respective coupling half a ring is provided behind theridges, serving as guide for each coupling half, over which the couplinghalveswith the annular recesses may roll.

2,774,617 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 lee Fig. 1l is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 shows the abutment ring.

In the modification of the tube coupling illustrated in Figs. l-3, eachof the tube ends 1 and 2, which are to be connected, is provided, closeto the end of the tube, with a ring-shaped groove 3, which has beenshaped from the inside and produces on the outer surface of the tubes anannular bead or protuberance 4. The annular protuberances may have across section curved in the form of a circular arc, as is shown in Fig.2, or they may be also shaped as a rounded angle 4a, according to Fig.4, with one side of the angle ascending at a steeper gradient than theother side. The protuberances 4 are appropriately provided with thespring rings 36, which thus reinforce the annular protuberances 4.

Figs. 5 and 6 indicate two different forms of the construction, whereinthe annular protuberances 4b and 4c, respectively, are welded onto thetube ends 1.

According to Figs. l-6, each coupling half consists of an annular body5, having an inside diameter b which is 5L greater than the outsidediameter a of the tubes, but

smaller than the outside diameter c of the annular protuberances 4.

The annular bodies 5 are divided along a plane passing through thediameters thereof, and parallelly with the v dividing slit 7 they areprovided with the laterally proup to the tube ends 1 and 2, so as toseal them tightly; The

parts are assembled in that the lip seals 14 are slid in place on thetube ends 1 and 2, and thereafter partsSa and 5b of the annular bodiesare mounted in such a fashion that the lip seals 14 will come to beplaced lin the inner hollows 13 and the ring-shaped recess 12 willoverlap the Additional features of the new coupling arerhereinafter.

described more particularly with the aid of the examples of constructiontypes as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. K

Fig. l is an elevational view of the tube coupling of the presentinvention, in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line Il-II of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 shows an end view 0f a coupling half;

Figs. 4-6 are detailed partial sectional views of modied couplingsshowing the annular recesses and the ringshaped ridges on the tube endscooperating with these recesses;

Fig. 7 illustrates a further modificationof the coupling, in the openposition, while one coupling half is shown as a side elevation and theother in cross section;

Fig. 8 shows still another modification of the coupling, only onecoupling half being drawn in cross section;

Fig. 9 is a further modification of a coupling half, shown in elevation;

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view taken on the line X-X of Fig. 9;

annular protuberance 4. Parts 5a and 5b are then fastened to each otherby means of bolts 11 at the dividing slit 7, the bolts being secured-With the aid of nuts 16 having tightwashers'. 1

Thus the annular bodies 5 are secured on the tube ends 1 and 2, in sucha manner that they may gyrate thereon, while the lip seals 15 procurethe sealing oi of the connections and make possible a swinging motion ofthe annularfbodies 5 as against the tube ends 1 and 2.

A, parting of the annular bodies 5 from the tube ends 1 and 2 isprevented through the interlocking of the annular protuberance 4 withrecess 12 of the annular bodies 5 (cf. Figs. 4 6).

Preferably, a friction ring 17 may be further provided (cf. Fig. 2)between the tube ends 1 and 2, behind the ring-shaped protuberances 4(Fig. 2), and the annular bodies 5 in the region of the recesses 12,having the form of a cut-open Spring ring (cf. Fig. l2) and beingmounted and secured on the tube end through the resilience of thespring. The use of the spring ring 17 facilitates the angular tilting ofthe annular bodies 5in relation to the/tube ends,.inasmuch as the recessV12` will roll over onto ring 17. Y'

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the bosses 9 of parts 5a and 5b are set backin relation to the dividing slit 7, so that the nutted bolts 11, whichare accommodated therein, come to be exposed for part of their lengths,between the bosses 9 being positioned opposite each other.

One of the bolts 11 of each coupling half 5 is provided with a hingingclamp lever 18 having a locking catch 20 swinging around a pivot 19. Thetwo parts 1S and 20 constitute a toggle joint lock which may betightened through the engagement of the catch lug 21 of ,the lockingcatch.' on the opposite-bolt 11 of. the other coupling half, so as toestablish afconnecti'on betweenthe two coupling halves.

'Theflipy seals 14 are provided with the projections 22, which protrudevbeyond the fronts of the annular bodies 5v that are to bev coupled toeach other, thus serving as seals of the frontal areas and producing atight seal of the coupling halves 5, when in their closed position.

In the type of construction according to Fig. 7 the tube ends 1 and 2are provided with annular protuberances 4, and the ring-shaped bodies.5, having they inside diameter b, which is larger than the outsidediameter fr of` the tube ends, feature the recesses 12, which facetowardthe inside of these bodies 5v and overlapl by play the aforesaidprotuberances 4, while the. inside diameter b1 at the end of the annularcoupling halves 5 is smaller thanV the outside diameter c' of thering-shaped protuberances 4.

The annular bodies 5, furthermore, are provided with the hollows 13, toaccommodate the lip seals 14. However, the coupling halves are notcompletely divided alongV a plane passing through the diameters thereof,but solely in the regions of the inwardly turned-recesses'1'2'. Thethereby separated portion 5c of the coupling half isy secured to theremaining part 5d of the ring-shaped body with the aid of bolt 11a, andmay be removed therefrom.

Thus, the annular body 5d may be slipped on the tube end with the lipseat set in its proper place, and it will be securely fastened on thistube end, being safe against parting therefrom after portion 5c-V hasbeen screwed on. A friction ring 17 may be provided in this type ofconstruction, in a manner similar to the one as described hereinbefore.

Coupling half 5d is furnished with a projecting attachment, whichprotrudes over the tube end and, on the inside, is provided with threads35 tov accommodate aV screw collar 23. Into a recess 24 of the frontalarea of this screw collar 23 is set an end seal 25, andthrough ashoulder piece 26 the collar supports a ring 27, which, in a manner thatin itself is known, is furnished with two bayonet-type couplings 28 andwith the contact shoulders 29 to engagethe bayonet couplings of theopposite ring.

For easier 'handling of ring 27, when setting it over the screw collar23, the former may be further provided with a channel 30, foraccommodation of a spring' ring 31, which braces a shoulder 32 of ring27.

The annular body 5, however, may be also divided in a direction, whichis perpendicular to the center line thereof. (Cf. Fig. 8.) Here, whilethe construction is otherwise in accordance with Fig. 7, the ring-shapedbody 5 is divided crosswise in the region of recess 12,A while the mainbody of the coupling half 5f is provided with threads 33, facingoutwards, for accommodation of an end ring Sg. In this case the insidediameter b2 of end ring 5g is larger than the outside diameter c of theannular protuberance 4 on the tube end, so that the end ring 5g may beslipped over the annular protuberance, and a friction ring 17 must be*provided', to prevent' the parting of the annular bodies 5 from the tubeends 1 and 2.

Nevertheless, an undivided coupling half 5 may be also used, having adiameter b3 (Fig. 10), at the rea-r end of the coupling half, which islarger than the outside diameter c ofthe annular protuberance 4,provided that it had been arranged in a manner that will prevent theparting of the thus constructed annular body 5 from the respective tubeend. In accordance with Figs. 9-11, this requirement is complied with inthat the undivided annular body S is provided, in` the region of recess12, with'` a channel', which` leads from the outside to the inside andserves to insert the spring ring 17.

The new coupling may be employed for a great variety of coupling links.It may be fitted by anybody on the already prepared tube ends as asupplementary addition thereto, and it makes possible that simplecoupling links can be used for tubing.

I claim:

1. A rapidly connectible coupling for angularly tiltable pipes,comprising, in combination, two identical coupling sleeves, one on eachpipe end to be connected, with the inside diameter ofthe couplingsleeves being greater than the'eutside-diameter ofthe pipes, anarchedannularrecess in' the insideV wall of each-coupling sleeve and aring-shaped protuberance on each pipe endy interlocking wit-h theaforesaid recesses to prevent parting of the coupling sleeves from theassociated pipe ends, a sealing gasket between each coupling half andthe corresponding pipe' end with which suchl coupling sleeve isassociated, the said sealing gaskets being located, with respect to4 thepipe ends, in front of the annular recesses and extending beyond thesaidl coupling sleeves and the pipe ends to define abutting frontalseals, and a pair of diametrically opposed locking devices for joiningthe two couplingv sleeves and pressing the aforesaid frontal sealsagainst eachother;

2. A couplingaccording-to claim l, including a spring ring insertedbetween thering-shaped protuberance on each tube end and the archedannular recess of each coupling; for guiding the coupling sleeves, sothat the coupling sleevesmay roll around their annular recesses.

3. A coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupling sleeves,in the direction of the' center lines thereof, are divided into two halfshells, and further comprising anchoring means for the locking devicesretaining the two half shells of each coupling sleeve on the associatedpipe.

4. A coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protuberances onthe pipe ends comprise corrugated portions of thepipe wallsand that suchprotuberances are internallyreinforced' by spring rings insertedtherein.

5. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the coupling` sleeves aredivided longitudinally into two half shells having cooperating lugsthereon and bolts extending through said lugs, one bolt of each couplingsleeve being provided with a clamp lever, and the other bolt ofthe-other respective coupling sleeve constituting the locking, device inassociation with such clamp lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS310,264 Emery Jan. 6, 1885 412,609 Hammond et al Oct. 8, 1889 1,843,394Lange Feb. 2, 1932 1,899,343 Mackey Feb. 28, 1933 1,994,527 Merrill Mar.19, 1935 2,396,078 Box Mar. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,786 GreatBritain Dec. 2, 1948

